Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-16

HnAA~Lt tAAulNkD-A btCfClk FDk WOMEN.
'You can san safely say" remarked prominent
bicycle dealer OF this city TO STAR reporter shat
there are 500 wheels in this city. Two thousand
would probably be nearer the truth SO one can
there are many people directly interested In
the bell and lamp regulation prescribed by the
District Commissioners. Bicycles and tricycles
are used in Washington not for pleasure only, but
also are employed largely as a means OF rapid
transit for business purposes, by business and
professional men, whose eallings require them TO
go about the city. Physicians insurance agents
newspaper reporters collectors OF various kinds,
and ministers use the bicycle or tricycle. to help
mon on the streets OF Washington as private car
rfages. The miles and miles OF asphalt pavement
make wheeling" easy and comfortable.
wHEEINEN's ORGANIZATIONS.
There are several clubs OF cyclers here and the
membership includes many wheelmen who have
made records as racers or expert riders. Many OF
the wheelmen are connected with the League OF
American Wheelmen, an organization that ex-
tends all over the country, and has done much for
wheelmen In the way OF securing recognition be-
fore the law, compiling road books and maps. and
In some places in securing the improvement or
roads. In this city wheelmen have miles OF we'll
paved streets TO ride upon, but In other places
| riding is confined largely TO suburban or country
roads. There is considerable difference between
road riding and riding on asphalt pavements. The
latter, old wheelmen will tell you, Is too easy.
They like the exhilaration OF the rougher riding
| on country road.
WOMEN ON WHEELS.
One OF the things noticeable In the rise and pro-
OF the wheel in this city is the great increase
within two or three years OF the number OF women
who ride tricyleS few years ago Mrs Belva
Lockwood attracted much notice by appearing on
the streets on tricycle.. She was the hrst woman
TO try IL, and her independence, IL Is claimed,
helped her considerably In her canvass against
Blaine and Cleveland for the Presidency, although
she was not elected. The machine she used
though It was new pattern at the time she
bought IL, Is old-fashioned now. The tricycle. OF
the day is made with crank and pedals and a
graceful woman who rides properly seems 10
acquire new grace upon It. Sitting erect, the
movement Is natural and easy. and she glides like
goddess. After Mrs. Lockwood appeared on the
street some other ventureSome women tried the
machine and used to ride for pleasure riding chiefly
at night About four years ago number OF ladies,
who were enthusiastic riders, banded together In
club. with several gentlemen, and every pleas
twtnkling lamps could be seen sweeping along on
some OF the wide avenues OF the city. The womans
tricycle. club was out. Gradually, however, ladies
began 10 appear singly on the street In broad day,
and Cow woman on a tricycle. attracts no more
attention than woman on a horse Every week
adds to the number OF fair cyclers.
FIVE HUNDRED OF THEN.
There are five hundred ladies' In this city who
ride trcycles. Many OF them own their own ma
chimes; others rent tricycles when they want TO
Use them. There are s.singles" and s'sociables''
and "tandemS, and tricycles OF great many differ
ent patterns The 'slngle" is made for one person;
tandem for two one sitting In front or the other.
There is nothing better for women" said the
wheelman. 'Take women, for Instance, that sit
In the parlor all day, or perhaps, may yet into a
street car and ride to the store and do a little
shopping. On the tricycle. they get eXhilarating
exercise. They move and breathe. There Is u
lady now on her way from Alabama to this city
on tricycle.. She left home suffering with in
1ammatory rheumatism, but we have heard from
her at Louisville, and she has completely recov-
cred. There is nothing like IL for consuming the
old and helping to make new tissue.
RIDING COSTUMES.
"Alady, though should be dressed properly for
riding in order to get the full benefit OF the exer-
else and all the pleasure OF riding II she tries to
ride with hustle and other encumbrances OF course
She will ind 1t uncomfortable. Her movements will
be impeded An ordinary riding habit Is a good
thing: Now, there's proper dress, and he pointed
to slender young lady, who had just alighUed at
the curb from tricycle.. She wore dark blue
flannel dress with blouse waist, and loose skirt,
that. so far as the reporter could make out, con-
cealed no hustle or other artificial means or sup
plying outline TO the form.
'She will ride with much freedom and grace
as man" he went on: Another lady, the wife Of
a well-kLown literary man here has a very simple
but ingenious costume She wears two loose
flannel skirts, the under one longer than the other.
The outer skirt is so arranged that when She
leaves her tricycle. to go into house or store she
can pull or gather 1t up at the sides, with con-
cealed strings so that Il becomes a iounced over.
skirt. When she resumes riding she simply lets
out the skirt and It falls down at fun length Some
ladies ride very we'll IL is a great pleasure 10
who SITS erect and brings her weight sQuarely on
the pedals"
STARTING ON A "RUN."
ANY pleasant evening one can see parties Of
ladies leaving the bicycle school for a run on tr-
cycles The ladies generally go in parties OF from
two to ten. OFTEN they will have gentleman or
several gentlemen with them as an escort IL Is
somewhat amusing to see party OF ladies, who
never rode before, start out After they are seated
the escort will give each machine start, and the
nar " Wi oil q falC rrS han nna NJ
the LADIES' will forget that IL Is necessary tor her
to keep her feet moving, and she will strike a
move ahead she viii Give cry for helm. The es-
court dismountS and gives the distressed lady
another start. Meanwhile the other ladies OF the
party all stop to see what the trouble is, and the
escort has TO so the round OF all the ricycles CIV
ing each push. This operation he may have to
repeat three or four times before the party has
gone quarter or mile, and by that time the
lady riders Will have learned to keep in motion.
One can learn very soon TO propel tricycle. with
ease and grace.
BICYCLES FOR WOMEN.
novelty promised for this fall is a bicycle for
lady riders There are several fair riders in this
city ready to take TO this lady bicycle when II
comes. 1t will be so arranged that a lady who
will learn to ride 1t can do SO with as much
grace and proprety as she could ride tricycle..
IL Will be modification OF the Rover type OF
bicycle for gentlemen with the backbone or frame
curved downward like the letter U between the
wheels so that when the lady sits upon the sad
die there will be no obstruction In the way OF her
dress between her feet and the saddle. "rhe only
trouble, said the dealer, xviii be in mounting.
Ladies who ride Will have TO have gentlemen with
them TO assist them In mounting" Wnen the
velocipede came out early In the century, ma
chimes with the L shaped backbone were con-
structed tor and used by the great grandmothers
OF the present race Oh trlcyclerS-
LEARNING TO RIDE
1t is not so dificult a feat as q grounding i'm
AGNES to bestride bicycle and dart away Most
bicyclers will tell you that IL is just like learning
IA swim only has to acQulrp confidence A
himself and his machine. IL is feat OF balanc-
ing which at first requires effort, but by a little
practice becomes as natural and Instructive as
the balancing one does ali the time when he Is
walking The bicycle teacher Will tell you to keep
the wheel moving. so long as II Is kept In mo-
tion-nke coin that Is rolled on q smooth sur
FACET Will keep up. There are some things
self falling TO the right, his natural impulse is
turn his wheel 10 the left, but that only expe-
dites his fall. He is instructed to turn his wheel
in the direction that he Is falling. Then
the momentum OF his falling body
simply drives the wheel In that direction
and the machine straightens itself up lie
will have q strange tendency at first TO run
him. Some acquire control OF the machine
In one or two lessons. Young boys accus-
toned to athletic sports take as naturally TO
the wheel as birds to the wing. Older persons with
sitter limbs require considerable drilling, and
probably win never acquire the same grace In
riding. II is likely that the beginner, after his
rrsu few journeys about the city on a bicycle, Will
fact is that he eXerts himself a great deal more
than he will ind necessary when he acquires more
skill Then, too, some OF the muscles OF his leg
never before called upon TO do much work are